Not Ready. Ready.

In two short days that will seem like mere minutes, our son, who was a newborn yesterday, will graduate from high school.

I am not ready for this.   I am not ready to leave it behind.

I want at least one more band concert.    I want to re-live the frenetic activity of getting him ready for a school trip.    I want the continued conversations of what happened at school today and which teachers did what.  It is all so good and it is all so amazing.

I'm not really prepared to hear the opening strains of Pomp and Circumstance.   I cannot guarantee that I will not be a complete mess when I first see him walking in his cap and gown.  There is the reality  that once he is given his diploma, 18 years of preparation are in the rear view mirror.   I really am not ready.

And yet, I am ready. . .because I have to be.

There is no choice;   life keeps moving onward.   Each breath.   Each step.   Each question mark and exclamation point moves us forward.   To the next thing.  To the next adventure.   To my new favorite thing.   If we don't move forward with life, we are out of sync with life;  to be out of sync with life means missing so very much.

So I know I have no choice in the matter.   I am resolved to the very idea that I know in my heart is true;   that as much as I will cherish what has been - there are greater stories and bigger adventures ahead.

This is the life to be lived.  So I take a deep breath, look up and commit myself. . .

I am ready.